10 sexiest swimming pools in the world – Part 1

We round up 10 of the world’s hippest swimming pools making a splash this summer

If you had to pick a favourite, what would you choose? A dip in a climate-controlled infinity pool situated in the middle of a 180-acre rainforest in Coorg or swimming laps on top of a skyscraper in Singapore. How about kicking back on a floating bed in Ibiza with a gorgeous masseuse working out those pre-vacation knots? Before you pack those Burberry swim trunks, pick a vacation spot that will give you something to talk about.

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Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

An infinity pool stretched over three Vegas-in-Asia skyscrapers means that there are times when there is disturbingly little building underneath you as you do laps. If you can swallow your vertigo, the experience is exhilarating. To the delight of budding Phelpses, the pool is three times the length of an Olympic pool. Meanwhile, the platform it’s propped on is about as long as the Empire State Building laid on its side.

The clincher: Head to the eastern side of the platform for an unbeatable view of Singapore’s F1 track.

Ocean Beach, Ibiza

Slick, stylish and sitting on the hottest piece of real estate on the island’s west coast, the scenester vibe at this two-year-old beach club is palpable. Especially during its regular Sixties-style champagne spray parties, complete with cabaret dancers, aerial performances and fountains of pink and white bubbly. The Ecstasy-dosed, champagne-soaked masses here won’t stop partying until they’re rolled out in wheelchairs.

The clincher: You can book the floating bed at the pool and get an appropriately christened Ibiza Angel to give you the coolest massage of your life.

B2 Boutique and Spa, Zurich

Once Switzerland’s oldest and biggest brewery, the Hürlimann is now a chichi boutique hotel with a rooftop pool that’s got dramatic views of the city’s skyline. The knobbly factory bits jutting out from the roof give it a distinctive industrial feel – in fact, when you turn the taps in the showers, you almost expect beer to come gushing out.

The clincher: The Hürlimann was the original brewer of Samichlaus, one of the world’s strongest beers (14 per cent alcohol by volume). Today, the waters can still get you high.

W retreat, Koh Samui

Not all pools are meant for getting wet. Some, like this one, are meant for rockstar socializing. In the snazzy sunken seating with views of the ocean and the island of Koh Phangan, young backpackers-turned-flashpackers enjoy mo-hee-toes from the stylish pool bar to Michaelangelo L’Acqua’s beats. Each villa has its own ocean-view pool, but be sure to book a spot here at night to witness a partying crowd that transforms the sleepy island resort into a glamorous nightclub you might find in Singapore.

The clincher: Scattered across the property are self-service fridges – called “sweet spots” – with complimentary Cornettos, tiny tubs of Häagen-Dazs and cold drinks.

Taj Madikeri, Coorg

Skip the hotel’s larger outdoor pool and head to the climate-controlled indoor infinity pool – undoubtedly one of the sexiest in the country. Where else can you look out over spectacular valleys of strawberries, coffee and spices, all while submerged in heated water?
The clincher: It’s situated in the midst of a 180-acre live rainforest.